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DEPRESSION & HARDSHIP IN AMERICA Shays’ Rebellion Shays’ Rebellion

Shays’ Rebellion

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Shays’ Rebellion. Depression & Hardship in America. Story of Rachel Wells, reveals the problems faced by the impoverished (weakened or poor) states: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Shays’ Rebellion

DEPRESSION & HARDSHIP IN AMERICA

Shays’ RebellionShays’ Rebellion

Page 2: Shays’ Rebellion

Story of Rachel Wells, reveals the problems faced by the impoverished (weakened or poor) states:

“To the Honnorabell Congress I rachel do make this Complaint Who am a Widow advanced in years & Dearly have occasion of ye Interst for that Cash I lent the States. I was a Sitisen in ye jersey when I Lent ye State a considerable Sum of Moneys & had I justice dun me it mite be Suficant to suporte me in ye Contrey whear I am now…but Being…so Robd by the Britans & others I went to Phila(delphia) to try to get a living…& was There in the year 1783 when our assembley was pleasd to pas a Law that No one Should have aney Interest that Livd out of jearsey Stats…Now gentlemen in this Liberty, had it bin advertised that he or She that Moved out of the Stat should Louse his or her Interest you mite have sum plea against me…God has Spred a plentiful table for us & you gentlemen are ye Carvers for us preay forgit Not the Poor weaklings at the foot of the Tabel ye poor Sogers (soldiers) has got Sum Crumbs That fall from their masters tabel.”

Page 3: Shays’ Rebellion

Congress borrowed money from citizens during the war to Congress borrowed money from citizens during the war to pay expensespay expenses

Thousands of soldiers came home after the war Unemployment rose

Dollar value depreciated States printed their own money/No national currency

Amount of exports dropped sharply

States forced money requests (high taxes)States forced money requests (high taxes) to pay the war debt & offset the lack of exports Farmers did not have money Farmers did not have money to pay high taxes State officials seized lands & threw farmers in jail seized lands & threw farmers in jail Many people called the govt. another form of tyrannycalled the govt. another form of tyranny

BOOM & BUST WAS THE WAY OF LIFE

Page 4: Shays’ Rebellion

Shays’ RebellionShays’ RebellionFarmers in western Mass. responded in

1786

Daniel Shays led a group that forced forced courts to close courts to close Kept judges from taking land

Congress asked other state militias Congress asked other state militias to helpto help States refusedStates refused

January 1787 – 1,000 farmers marched on an arsenal in Springfield State militia was ready & killed 4 farmers Farmers scattered & uprising ended

Showed that the Articles needed to be Articles needed to be re-addressed & amendedre-addressed & amended

Page 5: Shays’ Rebellion

Newly elected governor John Hancock gave those involved

a pardon (2nd chance)

Page 6: Shays’ Rebellion

“I am mortified beyond expression, that in the moment of our independence we should by our conduct render ourselves ridiculous and contemptible in the eyes of all Europe.”

“I am mortified beyond expression, that in the moment of our independence we should by our conduct render ourselves ridiculous and contemptible in the eyes of all Europe.”

“We are all in dire apprehension that a beginning of anarchy with all its calamitys has

approached, and have no means to stop the dreadful work.”

“We are all in dire apprehension that a beginning of anarchy with all its calamitys has

approached, and have no means to stop the dreadful work.”

“I do not conceive we can exist long as a nation without…a power which will saturate the whole Union in as energetic manner as the authority of the state governments extends over each state.”